Gas and liquid separator



Sept. 11, 1934. A OBRlEN GAS AND LIQUID SEPARATOR Filed Aug. 22, 1930 Patented Sept. 11, 1934 UNITED STATES GAS AND LIQUID SEPARATOR Joseph A. OBrien, Ponca City, Okla., assignor to Standard .Oil-Development Company, a corporation of Delaware l Application August 22, 1930, Serial No. 477,011

3 Claims. (Cl. 10S-220) 'This invention relates to the separation of fluids in a well and more particularly, it relates to the segregation of gas from oil and. water in the bottom of a well whereby the gas and liquids can be separately withdrawn from the well. 'Ihe invention will be fully understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which latter Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional View through a separator and well casing;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the separator and well casing with parts broken away; and

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of a modied form of separator disposed in a well casing. d

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing, reference numeral 1 designates the bottom portion of a Well casing which is adapted to receivea device for separating gases from oil and Water.

The device comprises a tube 2 which is connected at its open end through a collar 3 with the working barrel 4 of the well. A collar 5 is secured to the opposite end of the tube and is closed by the removable plug 6. An internal casing 8 is telescopically disposed with respect to the tube to form an annular passageway 8a and is connected at one end with the collar 3. This end of the internal casing 8 is provided with a plurality of openings 9 which open into the well 3c casing to permit ow of gas from the passageway into casing 1. The opposite end of this casing opens into the well casing.

A sleeve 11 is telescopically disposed with respect to the tube 2, forming with the tube, an

annular chamber 11a one end of which opens into the passagway 8a intermediate the ends of the passageway. This end of the sleeve is provided with a plurality of openings 12. The opposite end of the sleeve is connected through 4o a collar 13 to a cylindrical member 14 which latter is closed upon the collarr 5, being secured thereto in fluid tight relation. The sleeve 11 is provided, adjacent the collar 13, with a plurality of openings 15. 'I'he chamber opens into lthe tube 2 intermediate the ends of the chamber through a plurality of openings 16. Spacing lugs 17 are disposed between the sleeve 11 and the open end of the casing 8 and spacing lugs 18 are provided between the sleeve and casing 5o -adjacent the open end of the sleeve.

.y The device is adapted to be positioned at the bottom of the well casing, protruding from. the casing into the oil bearing sand. In case the well makes considerable water, the bottom of the separator may protrude into the water layer with the openings 15 disposed in the water layer. Mixed oil and/or water, and gas ilows upwardly in the passageway 8a between the sleeve 11 and casing 8.

The oil is separated from the gas by being momentarily interrupted in its upward flow by the larger space between the tube 2 and casing 8 allowing the oil to flow downwardly through the chamber 11a between the sleeve and tube. A separation of the gas from the oil is effected at the time the oil reverses its direction of movem'ent. 'I'he separated gas continues upwardly through the passageway and ows outwardly through the openings 9 into the well casing through which it can be separately withdrawn .exteriorly of the working barrel. The oil freed from gas flows downwardly through the chamber and is drawn into the tube through the openings 16 where it again reverses its direction of travel owing upwardly through the tube and working barrel to a suitable place of disposal not shown. Any loose sand which is carried rby the stream of oil in its circuitous passage through the separator, drops downwardly by gravity and due to its own inertia on lateral deflection of the stream from the chamber into the tube. The downwardly falling sand accumulates at the bottom of the chamber as indicated at 19. Any water in thebottom of the well is drawn through thlP openings 15 into the chamber and through the 85 openings 18 into the tube through which it is withdrawn from the well.

Referring to Fig. 3, a modied form of separator is shown in which the openings at the bottom of the chamber are omitted. A large num- 9o ber of openings 9 are provided in the casing at the upper end of the passageway. Similarly, a large 'number of openings 12 and 16 are provided in the sleeve and tube respectively. This form of separator ls of particular advantage for separating gas and oil which contains only a small amount oi water.

Various changes may be made within the scope of the appended claims in which it is desired to claim all novelty inherent in the invention as broadly as the prior art permits.

I claim:

1. A separator comprising a tube and casing telescopically disposed with the casing exteriorly of the tube to form an annular passageway opening at one end, the tube having a closed end and having an open end adapted to be connected to a suction pump, the end of the casing adjoining the open end of the tube being closed against the tube, the casing having openings adjacent its closed end and a sleeve telescopically disposed with respect to and exteriorly of the tube forming with the tube an annular chamber, the end of the sleeve adjoining said closed end being closed against the tube, the sleeve having a group of openings adjacent its open end communicating with the chamber and passageway,

the sleeve having a group of openings between its closed end and the adjoining end of the casing, the walls of the tube having openings between the groups of sleeve openings.

2. A separator comprising a tube and casing telescopically disposed with the casing exteriorly of the tube to form an annular passageway opening at one end, the tube having a closed end and having an open end adapted to be connected to a suction pump, the end of the casing adjoining the open end of the tube being closed against the tube, the casing having openings adr jacent its closed end and a sleeve telescopically disposed with respect to and exteriorly of the tube forming with the tube an annular chamber, the end of the sleeve adjoining said closed end being closed against the tube, the sleeve having a group of openings adjacent its open end communicating with the chamber and passageway, the sleeve having a group of openings .between its closed end and the adjoining end of the casing, the walls of the tube having openings between the groups of sleeve openings, the end of the casing adjoining the open end of the tube being closed against the tube, the casing having a plurality of openings at its closed end.

3. A separator comprising aA tube and casing telescopically disposed with the casing exteriorly of the tube to form an annular passageway, the tube having a closed end protruding beyond the adjoining end of the casing and having an open end. adapted to be connected to a pump, and a sleeve telescopically disposed with respect to and exteriorly of the tube forming with the tube an annular chamber opening into the passageway between the ends of the passageway, the end of the sleeve adjoiningsaid protruding closed end being closed against the tube and having openings, the walls of the tube having openings communicating with the interior of the tube between the ends of the chamber,` the end of the casing adjoining the open end of the tube being closed against the tube, the casing having a plurality of openings at its closed end.

JOSEPH A. OBRIEN. 

